My first pair

I've been wanting to make a pair of these for some time now. I'm short and round....I had to add a few inches to the pattern. My pants originally had a nicer bottom... I used the top edge of the sheet....which I then had to hem as they were too long. I picked my least favorite vintage sheet to experiment with. Now, I have a better plan and will defintely make a few more. Very comfortable.

Thanks for all the nice comments about my Lizzy.

Prom

It was prom weekend here. Don't they look beautiful? It was so fun getting ready and seeing all the other kids dressed up too. I got all teary looking at her so grown up.
It seems like just the other day she was a little girl.

Lizzy and Ryland have been together so far their whole Junior year. He's such a nice boy. Aren't they the cutest couple?

Favorite Friday Blog Finds

I saw this apron and have saved it for inspiration. I hang clothes on the line all Summer. I love the whole idea of a clothespin apron to keep in my laundry room. Soon...

Liz at The Quilted Turtle posted this fabulous fabric silouette tutorial. She has a great blog, be sure to check it out.

I've given away all my baby gifts. I'm thinkin some of these might be in order for the next "wee one" in my life. Oh, and some of these too.

I found a few old event T-shirts of my son's in the attic that might look better like this on his couch or bed.

I can't help it, I like bags. This bag is just so "Spring like".

Have a great weekend with some time to enjoy the outdoors as well as some peaceful time in your sewing room.

Attic Finds

I worked in the attic again today, prior to going to "work". I found some more doll clothes that were crocheted. These were made just for these little dolls. Aren't they sweet? I even made little panties. I know I did these on a car trip we took somewhere. Some of the dresses are more like a swim suit with a skirt attached. I'll have to write the pattern down. I also found this vintage doll, my oldest daughter bought for me. I don't know what she is called. It seems silly to make doll clothes now that my girls are grown, but I'd like to clean up the dolls I've saved and make them clothes, and blankets to give to grandchildren to play with some day.
I did succeed in getting a large garbage bag full of stuff thrown out and 5 grocery bags full of stuff for the resale store in our area. I rediscovered so many "treasures" and memories. There is still much work to be done up there...I know I said I would post a before pic, but I'm too embarrassed.
I'll post a before when I have an after to show with it. Ü

Spring

While Bruce and I were walking yesterday, we were barely able to make out these ducks. It took some looking to find his "wife". I was very pleased with how this came out despite the distance and my not so fancy camera. We can finally say the snow has melted everywhere but the ski hill. Spring is also about Spring Cleaning....As a child we moved alot. My mom didn't save many of our things because it was expensive to move it all. As a result, I've saved almost every toy my three children own!!!!!! The attic had become a place to open the door and throw things in...literally! Now that the kids are almost grown, I'm trying to get it organized in the next two weeks (so I can tackle the rest of the house). We've lived in this home for 19 years...that's alot of accumulating. I'm ashamed to post a before pic, but will tomorrow so I can show my after pic.
While up in the attic I rediscovered these two treasures. I used to crochet little outfits for the girls dolls, obviously even their trolls. The red outfit was made specifically to show off the Treasure Troll's gem on her belly! Too much!

New Project

Since I did complete a few knitted projects recently, I thought I'd start something new. The yarn is from the "stash". It was a birthday gift two years ago. It's time I made a beautiful shawl with it. When Knitting Daily offered this pattern as a free download, I couldn't resist.I'm going to take my time. If it's done by September, I'll be a happy gal.

My oldest daughter is leaving for Europe today. A trip of a lifetime. I'm so happy for her and looking forward to hearing all about it in 3 weeks. Ah, to be young and free.

I didn't find anything new this week, so I thought I'd share some of my favorite tutorials I save for "someday".

As it is approaching beach weather, I would like to make one of these tote able beach towels for my daughters.

This is a simple, quick project. I used a thrifted, vintage towel to make this for a door in my kitchen.

I've looked at this project alot too.

I have such a long list of tutorials for "someday". Maybe this coming week I'll get at least one more of these done!

I used Elizabeth's Tutorial to make a lunch bag. I made the largest size as my swap partner has two boys. I was thinking it would be a nice size to take some sandwhiches and chips to the park with.The lining is the same pattern as the large, covered, button. I tried several fabric flowers, but nothing seemed "just right". I hope she will like it.
I've gathered a few things, but plan to stuff it with a few more before it gets sent off in the mail.

Put the buttons on tonight and called it "done". The buttons have some flecks of colors in them although they look white in this photo.This makes a total of 3 different shades of purple sweaters I've made for baby Violet. This is the final one for awhile. I have a baby vest to finish, started another market bag and have a pair of socks I'm working on.

I did work on my lunchbox swap, but am not ready to post it today. Hopefully, it will be ready tomorrow. I'm trying to accent it some.

Follow Through!

It's done. So many options...I will definitely do this again. It could be a great little beach bag too with some more modifications.

While I was outside taking the picture of my bag, couldn't resist a quick pic of our little mini, Rhett.
He's one happy boy to see the snow rapidly melting.

Tonight, I'm finishing the purple baby sweater. Hopefully I'll have my lunchbox swap to show you tomorrow too. I'm on a roll!

Market Bag

I haven't crocheted in awhile. (I learned when I was 7 from my sister.)
A dear friend gave me this wonderful crochet hook for a gift. When I saw this over the weekend, I couldn't stop thinking about how wonderful it was. The pattern happened to call for a hook just this size! I got out some Sugar and Cream... I'm thinking about a fabric band with 20" (straps so it will go over my shoulder). It's tempting to give it a generouse lining that will expand as well....That's a project for another day.

While taking this pic of the fabric that inspired the color choice of cotton, I rediscovered this vintage sheet I just used a portion of....Now there are more decisions. . .
As Penny, says in her post, she modified this pattern to make her bag. I only make things for myself and as gifts. If you don't crochet, and are as taken with them as I am, check out Penny's ETSY shop. I saw she just posted some for sale. It's a great take on the pattern, simple and wonderful. Way to go Penny!

Favorite Friday Blog Finds

Sew Mama Sew is posting a wealth of tutorials that are being submitted for a contest. This one from Vintage Threads caught my eye. I love the idea of recycling cards this way. Any applique on the front would be cute. I also really liked this bag and hope to make one soon. It's pure marketing genious to feed us all these wonderful ideas and to be such a resource for the sewing community.

These are a few other great tutorials/ideas I came across this week.

Great little cards from Craft Addictions
Cute, little butterfly paper clips at How About Orange.
Sew Take A Hike, made a crocheted bag with a link to the free pattern she based her bag on.

I'd like to thank Kristi and Lilly for playing along with the Pay It Forward. I'm looking forward to making them something nice.

This was taken this morning...Yep, it's
snowing again. In fact they closed schools around here today because we are expected to get 10".

A completed project

This is what I see when I look up from my computer now. I'm so not showing you my cluttered computer table...This past Summer, I bought this vintage towel for 50cents at a yard sale. I knew right away it was going to become something like this. I started it way back in November but made a mess, it sat in a pile for a "time out". Finally rescued it today. The chalk marks for quilting are still on it, but I had to see it on the wall. At some point, I'd like to put some more old plates up in the kitchen too.

I learned to make this little "pocket" on the back. A dowel, cut to size, slips right in there and it hangs great. The raw edges of the pocket are under the binding. I'm really pleased with it. I'll take it down tomorrow and wash out those chalk marks...Thanks for seeing it and sharing my excitement. I'm real good at starting things, but don't always have the best completion rate.

Pay It Forward

I finally jumped into the Pay It Forward, at Liz's blog. This means I will make a handmade gift for the first 3 people to leave a comment at this post. (I have 365 days to do this by the rules.) They agree to post the pay it forward on their blog and do the same for 3 other people. If you post, please make sure you send me your email address so I can get your snail mail address. I'm excited to be participating in this.

Good Intentions

I posted about this bag here. Finally got around to lining it this weekendSamantha loved it. I used part of a vintage sheet for the lining, then hand sewed it in.
Completed the sweater and cut open the steeks. Now it just needs a few finishing touches and some sleeves. Hope to have it done by Friday.
Spring is here! Yeah! This is my walking bag. It has a long strap that I wear over my shoulder. It holds a ball of yarn nicely. I found this UFO and thought it would be a great, mindless, walking project. I only have to occassionally glance at my needles, so I get a little knitting done when Bruce and I take some big walks.
I bought this Reebok pedometer to keep track of how far we walk. On the evenings I work, I promised Bruce to walk one of the dogs in the morning.

We walked 4 miles yesterday. I'm afraid of falling on the ice in the Winter, and there really aren't any open sidewalks due to our snow. So, we will walk every day now until there is ice on the ground again. Hopefully I can get my dietary intake decreased a little to actually benefit from all this exercise!

Friday Favorite Blog Links

So sorry for the bad photo, I was in a hurry. I posted about this embroidery and my love of it. Well, I did it too! It still needs to be made into a pillow. I love the pillow Heather made. ( You do need to scroll down a bit to see the pillow.)

If you are a fan of these two fabulous bloggers, you probably already saw these, but for those of you who didn't, it's worth a look see.

Button pin tutorial well done by Artsy-Crafty Babe.


Oh Frasson! did it again....another wonderful tutorial. This time it is for a lunch bag/shopping bag/gift bag. There will be many of these in my future! I hope she enters this in the Sew, Mama Sew! tutorial contest.

April Fooled by Mother Nature!

Spring? It was bad when I came home from work last night and even worse when I got up this morning. Even my Hunter was challenged to walk around outside this morning.

On the up side, it's a great day to bake cookies and work on sewing projects.